What is the largest moving device in a house that gets used at least two or three times a day? The correct answer: the garage door. Not only is it big and useful, manufacturers are working hard to make it attractive, too.

The most recent trend in beauty for garage doors is carriage-house style. These doors typically cost more than standard raised-panel ones, but they add a distinctive touch that many homeowners think is worth it. “These days, people are more open to spending a little more to make their house look better,” says Robert Deisher, product manager for residential door systems at Overhead Door.

The latest innovation in the style calls for steel construction instead of traditional wood. Steel offers two advantages over wood: It costs less and it requires much less maintenance. If a builder wants to go that route, his two choices are embossed steel or steel with an overlay. Both simulate the old-fashioned look of doors that swung open from the sides of wooden carriage houses, where horse-drawn carriages and early cars were stored. A steel door, however, is considerably less expensive—about $1,000 compared with $3,000 and up for wood.

Decorative hardware helps the new metal products mimic wood doors of yester-year. Strap hinges on the sides make steel doors look ready to swing open, and handles in the middle give the impression t...

A constant problem that contractors see in siding installations is improper flashing or, even worse, no flashing at all. Relying on caulk alone to keep water from leaking into homes is not a good practice. Whether you're talking about wood, fiber-cement, or vinyl siding, three areas in particular can prove problematic.